1974 in Etnedalen, Norwegen geboren
Einmalige Landschaft, Geschichte und Tradition stehen im Mittelpunkt der Werke. Die Acrylgemälde sind „norwegisch“ geprägt: Dunkel, leuchtend und kraftvoll. Die Motive in der Ausstellung Winterscapes zeigen oft eine norwegische Fjord-Landschaft, jedoch sind sie nicht romantisch, eher Selbstportraits. Aber der Blick darauf ist verfremdet durch zwei Holzflächen in traditioneller Acanthus-Schnitzerei, so dass nur ein Ausschnitt der Landschaft sichtbar wird. Acanthus entstand in der Renaissance, bekam ihre jetzige Formen im norwegischen Barock und hat heute ihren festen Platzt in der Handwerkstradition.
In ihren geschnitzten und gemalten Werken setzt die Künstlerin Silhouetten von Figuren aus Werken von Altmeistern z.B. der Renaissance ein oder der Geschichte Norwegens mit ihren starken Frauen. Historisch gesehen hat die Frau eine ebenso starke Rolle wie der Mann. Die Silhouette der Frau symbolisiert die norwegische Heldin Prilar Guri. Sie stand im Jahre 1612 allein auf einem Berg, gekleidet in Nationaltracht, durch ihr langes blondes Haar wehte der Wind. Sie hatte ein Horn bei sich, auf dem sie blies, um die Bauern vor drohender Gefahr zu warnen. In den Bildern von Monica Hansebakken spannt sich ein Bogen zwischen Tradition und Moderne.
Text about works 2008, Monica Hansebakken.
My works are acrylic paintings on wood. Building on lines and forms from real places, the works explore the aesthetic possibilities inside a motive. I develop these works by subtly integrating different elements such as areas of carved ornamental patterns or silhouettes of people into each painting. The carved ornamental pattern, acanthus, hints at my Norwegian roots and is well known in Norway. It has been used by many different cultures throughout the centuries in different variations.
Silhouettes of people found in these works remind of famous art works from Art History. The way I use them however means they can be any one, any place at any time and may appear combined or used individually - to become a more or less visible part of nature. Nature is also not just an external dimension in my work. My “landscapes” become an external projection of the self and act as a symbol for internal landscapes or emotions. In this way the works can also be seen as a form of self portrait.
Other ideas in these works build on elements in them and hint at man's relationship to nature and how man symbolically becomes a part of nature. In others man-made patterns may be used to represent nature. This visual language is rooted in my upbringing in rural Norway. Nature forms an important part of Norwegian tradition and is an important part of my sense of self. My works combine these ideas with a creative, analytical approach. The works are not romantic landscapes but do reflect my experience of having lived in two almost opposing environments, country and city. They combine natural settings, nature and its mythology with the city and its search for reinventing itself. The resulting works exhibit aesthetic qualities of urban landscapes – crisp, planned, structured, clean – overlaid into natural settings.
Education
M.F.A., Slade School of Fine Art. London. Sept. 2000 - July 2002
B.A., Fine Art, Staffordshire University. Stoke-on-Trent, England. Sept. 1996 - July 2000
Stryke-jernet – Painting. Oslo, Norway. Sept. 1995 - July 1996
Nansen skolen – Painting, Drawing, Photography. Lillehammer, Norway. Sept. 1994 - July 1995
VK TFF, Nybu VDG – Drawing, Form, Colour. Lillehammer. Sept. 1991 - July 1992
GK TFF, Dokka VDG – Foundation, Drawing, Form, Colour. Dokka, Norway. Sept. 1990 - July 1991
Selected Exhibitions
Solo
Raab Galerie. Berlin, Germany. 2009
Kunstverein für den Rhein-Sieg-Kreis e.V. Siegburg, Germany. 2008
Galerie Josef Nisters. Speyer, Germany. 2008
Galleri A Minor. Oslo, Norway. 2007
Usedomer Kunsthaus “Villa Meyer”. Zinnowitz, Germany. 2007
Goethe Institut. Frankfurt, Germany. 2007
Haus der Stadtgeschichte Museum, Offenbach, Germany. 2007
White & Case LLP. Frankfurt. 2007-2009
Synart Art Gallery. Frankfurt. 2006
LHB International Handelsbank AG. Frankfurt. 2006
Patrizierhaus Museum. Meissen, Germany. 2006
Kunstverein „Die Triedler“. Frankenthal, Germany. 2006
Synart Art Gallery. Frankfurt. 2005
Galleri A Minor. Oslo. 2005
Deutsche-Norwegische Handelskammer. Oslo. 2005
Synart Art Gallery. Frankfurt. 2004
The Gallery. St Albans, England. 2002
The Changing Room Gallery. London. 1999
Montserrat. El Bruck, Spain. 1996
Mixed
Art Galerie 7. Cologne, Germany. 2009
Galerie Josef Nisters. Speyer. 2008
Galerie Bengelsträter. Iserlohn, Germany. 2008
Herbstsalon der FJK, Bad Homburg, Germany. 2008
ART.FAIR 21 with Art Galerie 7. 2008
Galleri A Minor. Oslo, Norway. 2007
Galerie Josef Nisters. Speyer. 2007
Quartalsaustellung Hollfelder Kulturfreunde. Hollfeld, Germany. 2007
Galleri A Minor. Oslo. 2006
Mixed Exhibitions (continues)
Ausstellungshalle. Frankfurt. 2006
Internationale Hollfelder Kunstausstellung. Hollfeld. 2006
Synart Art Gallery. Frankfurt. 2005
Synart Art Gallery. Frankfurt. 2004
Bettie Morton Gallery. London. 2002
Brixton Art Gallery. London. 2000
The Studio. London. 1999
Atkinson Gallery. Southport, England. 1999
Art-Link Exchange. Hull, England. 1999
Mabon Fine Art Gallery, Drawing Exhibition. Crewkerne, England. 1999
Gallery Blue. Hamar, Norway. 1995
Gallery 2b. Lillehammer. 1995
Collections
Offenbach am Main City Collection.
LHB International Handelsbank AG, Frankfurt.
Frankfurt am Main City Collection.
Awards
Internationale Hollfelder Kunstpreis/Exhibition. Hollfeld. 2006
Bustenskjolds Ærespris. Etnedal, Norway. 2004
Catalogues
Atelier Frankfurt, „Open Doors“ 2008
Herbstsalon der FJK, Bad Homburg, 2008
Internationale Hollfelder Kunstausstellung. Hollfeld. 2006
Other
Haus der Stadtgeschichte Museum Exhibition, Offenbach - opened 2007
“2007 Night of Museums, Frankfurt and Offenbach”
Solo
Exhibition at Villa Meyer as part of Usedomer Musikfestival arranged
2007
with and support of Norwegian Embassy in Berlin, Germany
Radio
interview NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Company) Oppland region
2007
with 2007 Oslo exhibition
Associations
Foerdergemeinschaft Junger Kunst. Bad Honnef, Germany. since 2004
Web
“Inner Landscapes” Podcast/Short Video Interview by einfallsreich.tv (German and English) 2007